Tuesday 15 May 2018

Whimsical House Card for Polly Allsorts

Well it's really not long now until Create It in Kent ( 4 sleeps!), where you can enter the whimsical world of  Polly Allsorts and see all their beautiful products on their stand. I am getting SO excited! If you keep your eyes peeled you may spy this card that I have made there. 



I used a stencil  for the main image, and glitter paste, and coloured in and painted a little scene around it with sparkle pens. I mat and layered it onto a co ordinated piece of card which I embellished with stamps and stencils from the range. I love this little house- it would be perfect for a new home card. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:


Thanks for popping by

Lynda
x



Sunday 13 May 2018

Whimsical Flora Cottage - A Polly Allsorts DT Post

Good evening all. I hope you have had a great weekend. I'm popping by to share a project I have made using the stunning Whimsical Flora Cottage from Polly Allsorts. I adore these gorgeous houses. They aren't only pretty but practical too as can be used as storage because the front panel is hinged, allowing you to pop your own treasures inside. How cool is that!



To create my house I first applied a coat of white gesso, then painted in acrylic paint. I initially painted it a brighter yellow but decided that was a bit too bright so toned it down with a creamier yellow, which worked beautifully with the blues I selected. I accented the grooves using a dark posca pen to make them pop. 

The brickwork and flowers were created using a Polly Allsorts stencil. So useful for detailing. I coloured white texture paste and added the brickwork through the stencil. and the flowers were stencilled using glittery Sparkle Medium.  

Polly Allsorts also create some lovely complimenting stamps, which I used to create the foliage and signage- because every fairy cottage needs flowers and a cute name right? To finish off I painted some mdf flowers and leaves and glued them on too. 


I am so pleased with the way this turned out. I would love to live in a house like this wouldn't you?

If you are planning on visiting Create It  at Detling Showground in Kent next weekend you will be able to see all these wondrously whimsical  goodies as Polly Allsorts will be there. There is also  the opportunity to create a fabulous story book at their workshop. If you are interested you can find the details here.


I'm visiting the show myself next Sunday and can't wait! It promises to be a really good event with an amazing line up of demonstrators. Hopefully I will see you there.

I'll be back soon with another whimsical project to share, but for now I must go as the last of the Sunday sunshine is beckoning and the bbq is lit. 

Have a lovely evening

Lynda 
x

Monday 7 May 2018

Happy Birthday Ian!

Happy bank holiday Monday all. What a beautiful day it is too. Perfect for wandering the great British countryside don't you think? We did that yesterday, so today is a catch up on things at home and crafting kind of day. It's also my brother in law Ian's birthday, so I thought I would shar ethe card that I made for him. Ian is often found wandering the countryside as he is a keen geocacher in his spare time, so when I saw the latest release stamps from Sheena Douglass it struck me how perfect they would be for a card for him. 

To create my card I first made a background using distress oxide inks, and added streaks of sunlight through a mask. I stamped Sheena's silhouette thistles along the base, and the birds and sentiment are by Tim Holtz. 

The main image was stamped and then I coloured with watercolour pens. I love that it's like an old photograph- again perfect for Ian as he supports my sister in her professional photography business. 



To finish if off I added a die cut and stamped compass, from Sheena's Time Traveller collection. 

Happy birthday Ian. I hope it's a good one!

Challenges:


xx

A Spring Canvas - Samantha K DT Post

Finally Spring has sprung, the sun is shining and here in the UK we have a bank holiday weekend to enjoy. Perfect! I am definitely feeling the season and so thought I'd pop by to share a canvas that I created recently for Samantha K's recent Hochanda show. 


I wanted to create some layers of interest and so to begin I used a beautiful napkin that I purchased at Newbury Papercraft Show a while ago and pasted it onto my gesso'd canvas. 



Once dry I worked on my layout, using a stencil and texture paste to create a brickwork effect and flowers, adding flowers and fencing and sticking down before covering the entire piece with white gesso. 


While the gesso was drying I painted up Samantha's stunning swing seats and hummingbird and cut a window frame and scene to go behind it. I lay the window in place and set to work spritzing the entire piece with spray inks, and then once dry I stuck the window scene in place behind the frame, and added the final pieces in place.




If you'd like to see other projects made using Sam's beautiful mdf, why not join her Facebook group. You are very welcome to post your own mixed media creations there too, whether they feature her products or not. It's a great page to share hints and tips. We would love to see you there. 

Have a great weekend

Lynda
x

Sunday 6 May 2018

A Story Book Project and a Some Magical News!

Those that know me know me personally, and probably those that follow this blog, will know by now just how much I have a love of all things whimsical and magical. As a young girl I firmly believed fairies lived at the bottom of my garden and now, at the ripe old age of 46 I still do!  To me my crafting is an ecape into another world, and all the better if that world contains magic, which is why I am thrilled to be able to announce that I have just joined the Polly Allsorts design team.



For those that haven't heard of Polly Allorts, I can tell you that they create the most beautiful MDF whimsical houses, embellishments and story books and have stamps and stencils to compliment these. The products are so well cut and simply beautiful to work with.

Angela ( the owner ) has recently launched her products on Hochanda, and she will be hosting a stand at Create It in Kent on the 19th and 20th May. There is also the opportunity to create a beautiful story book of your own at a work shop there, so do book on if you are coming along. You cane see how here.



I have had a little play of my own with the book, and here is my take on it for you. It's a gorgeous piece,  perfect for using to record your own special memories. 






If you like the look of Polly Allsorts why not follow the Polly Allsorts Facebook page. You can keep up to date with all the news there, including details of how to book on to the workshop if you would like to. 

I am travelling to Kent myself for the Create It show.  I can't wait! It promises to be a really good one with an amazing line up of exhibitors. I hope you can make it too if you live nearby. 

Lynda
xx




Friday 4 May 2018

Creative Artiste Mixed Media May Challenge DT Post

It's May and time for a new Anything Goes challenge over at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog.  We've definitely had rather a lot of Spring showers lately and that was my inspiration for this months DT piece. 

Unfortunately this month we were let down by our sponsor at the last minute so, we have arranged a GDT spot for May's winner. The position will be available for our July challenge.


I have chosen to create a tag for my project, using up a background that I made a while ago from Aquatint inks and salt. I just love the effect and texture this technique creates. I also spattered it with white acrylic paint.  I stamped and heat embossed the main image and  rain drops, and stamped the sentiment on another piece of background card I had previously made, cut out and edged with distress ink. 

Challenges:



We love to see your work so do play along if you can.

Lynda
xx

Tuesday 1 May 2018

Crafts Galore Encore May Challenge

Sadly this is my final post as a design team member for Crafts Galore Encore. I have had a great time on the team, but I have exciting new crafty challenges ahead and therefore I have decided that  it is time to say goodbye to my talented team mates in order for me to focus fully on other things. 



This month the challenge is sponsored by Fred She Said. As I was organised nice and early for this challenge I created an Easter card using Easter Chicky and some old papers from my stash. I do love yellow and green for a Spring vibe don't you?



Thank you so much for having me Crafts Galore Encore. It's been a blast!

Lynda
xxx